Portland Pilots give up early two-run lead and fall to Seattle Redhawks 9-3 in series finale

The Seattle Redhawks overcame an early two-run deficit to defeat the Portland Pilots 9-3 in a non-conference baseball series finale at Joe Etzel Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Redhawks claimed two of three games against the Pilots, who drop to 4-12 on the year.

It looked good early for Portland as the Pilots were aggressive at the plate during the first inning. Ryan Barr led off the game with a single to right field and Colin Sowers earned a walk. Cody Lenahan then sacrificed both runners up one base before Jeff Melby sent a hard-hit single through the left side of the infield, allowing Barr to trot home with the game's first run.

Beau Fraser then handed the Pilots a 2-0 lead when his RBI groundout to the shortstop scored Sowers.

The Redhawks (5-11) would get a run back in the top of the second before scoring two more, both unearned, in the third inning. Cash McGuire reached on an error in the third before scoring on a double by Sean Narby, which tied the score at 2-2.

A few batters later with the bases loaded and two outs, Nate Roberts drew a walk forcing in a run and handing SU the 3-2 lead. Portland's Billy Sahlinger then relieved starter Zach Torson and ended the inning with a groundout to second base.

The score would remain 3-2 until the top of the sixth inning when the Pilots ran into a bit of trouble. Another UP error helped load the bases for Ryan Sommers, who drilled a ball high over the right-field fence for a grand slam and a 7-2 lead for Seattle.

The Redhawks added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning and the Pilots scored a run in the eighth.

Torson (0-4) took the loss after working just 2 2/3 innings. Only one of the three runs allowed by the freshman right-hander was earned. Sahlinger, also a freshman, threw 3.0 innings and was followed on the mound by Chad Kjemhus, Colin Feldtman and Adam Wozniak, a freshman lefty who made his collegiate debut to pitch a scoreless ninth.

Seattle starter Kyle Doyle (2-0) recovered from that rough first inning to throw 6.0 innings total. He walked three, struck out three and allowed five hits. The Redhawks used three relievers out of the bullpen.

Portland had a good opportunity to score in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Pilots got runners on second and third and trailed by one with just one out. After Fraser had walked and Caleb Whalen smacked a double down the left-field line, Doyle recorded a strikeout and a fly-out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, freshman Kevin Farley registered his first career RBI when he knocked in Barr with a base hit to left field.

The Pilots travel to Seattle for two midweek nonconference games. On Tuesday, Portland is scheduled to face the Washington Huskies at 5 p.m. at Husky Ballpark and then Seattle on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Bannerwood Park.